Hopper-car discharge outlet construction



Aug.` l-l, 1959 G. E. D'ATH HOPPER-CAR DISCHARGE OUTLET CONSTRUC'IION origina; Filed Nov. 23, 1951's s sheets-sheet@ 1N V EN TOR.

Aug 11, 1959 G. E. DATH 2,898,871

HoPPEvR-CAR; DISCHARGE OUTLET CONSTRUCTION original Fileduov. 23, 1953 s sheets-sheet Aug. 1l, 1959 G. E. DATH -{OPPER-CAR DISCHARGE OUTLET CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 23, 1953 IN V EN TOR.'

HDPPER-CAR DISCHARGE OUTLET CONSTRUCTION serial No. 587,118

s Claims. (Cl. s-,253)

This invention relates, generally, to the construction ofy hopper discharge outlets for railway cars.

This application is a division of `application Serial No. 393,753, led November 23, 1953.

AmongV the objects of this invention are: To provide for enclosing the slidable gate of a discharge outlet when it occupies the open position and to vlock the gate against movement by preventing rotation of the shaft which moves the same; to mount the lock on the shaft so that it is bodily rotatable therewith and is pivoted thereon; and to provide cooperating locking means on the frame engageable by thelock.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in partv appear hereinafter.

This invention, is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and it comprises the features ofk construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth `and the scope of the `application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more completeA understanding of the nature and scope of -this invention, reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the 'accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l. is a View, in side elevation, of Aa portion of the hopper of a railway car, or a bulk container provided with -a discharge outlet construction in which the present invention is embodied;

Figure 2 is a Vertical sectional view, taken generally along the line 2--2- of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of only a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 2 and illustrating the lock in the unlatched position;

Figure 4 is a View, similar to Figure 3, showing a modified form of lock, the construction lbeing for the` opposite hand mounting;

'Figure 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5-,5 of Figure 4; and- Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 5.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10, designates, generally, a hopper of a railway car or a bulk container which may be Adefined by a vertical inner side wall 11, an inclined outer side wall 12, and inclined end walls 13 and 14. These wallsy define a generally rectangular discharge opening which is surrounded by an outlet frame that is indicated, generally, at 15. It will be observed that the outlet frame 15 is provided with side walls 17, 18, 19 and 20, which overlie, respectively, the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 and are secured thereto. by rivets 21. The outlet frame 15 has a depending diseharge chute, `shown generally at 22, formed integrally therewith that is arranged to direct the lading from the hopper l1t) into suitable conveying. means. The lower end of pthe discharge chute 22 is closed by a sanitary closure that is indicated, generally, at 23. The sanitary closure 23 can be constructed `as shown in copending applica- 2,. tion Serial No. 340,367, tiled March 4, 1953, and assigned to the assignee of this application, now Patent No. 2,751,860, issued June 26, 1956.

A gate 26 is Slidably mounted on the outlet frame 15 for closing off the opening thereto. Rack teeth 27 are provided on the underside of the gate 26 for cooperation with pinions 28 which `are secured against endwise movement by rivets29v on` a shalt 30. The shaft 30 is journaled in bearings 31 and 32 at the sides of the outlet frame 15. Secured by a rivet 33 -to a projecting end of the shaft 30 is a sleeve 34 which has an operating head 35 formed integrally therewith. It will be understood that the operating head 35 is arranged to receive a removable operating bar (not shown) to permit the application of sufficient torque for rotating the shaft 30 to move the gate 26. VAn'integrally formed square head 36 projects from the operating head 35 and is adapted to receive a Wrench in some cases.

It is desirable to lock the shaft 30 -against; rotation when the gate 26 is inthe closed position shown in Figure l of the drawings.V For this purpose support ears- 37 are formed integrallyA with the sleeve 34 and extend outwardly therefrom in spaced relation for receiving therethrough a rivet 38 on which a llock 39 is rockably mounted. `As shown in Figure l of the drawings, the lock 39 is positioned between the support ears 37. When the lock 39` is mounted in the manner described, it will be noted that it is bodily rotatable with the sleeve 34 and the shaft 3l). The lock 39 is arranged to cooperate `with locking ears 40 that extend laterally from the side wall 18 of the outlet frame 15. When the lock 39 is in the locking position, it is located, shown in Figure l, between the locking ears 40. An aperture 41 is provided in the lock 39, Figure 3, and -a registering aperture 42 is provided in each ofthe locking ears 40 so that, when the lockl 39 occupies the position shown in Figure 2, a sealing band can be inserted through the registering apertures to prevent unauthorized movement of the lock 39 out of locking'engagement between the locking ears 40. The lock 39V is provided with a centrally located aperture 43 near its upper end to facilitate operation such as by the insertion of a removable bar in the event that diiiicultyfis. encountered in swinging the lock 30 to the position shown in Figure 3 for freeing the shaft 30 for rotation.

Slidably `supporting the gate 26 in its movement from the closed position shown in Figure l to the open position, are angles `45 and `46` which extend laterally from the frame side walls 17y and 18 and constitute track means.Y The angles 45 and 46 are secured by rivets 47 to side plates 49 [and 50 which constitute extensions of frame sides 51 (only one being shown) that in turn constitute integral extensions of the yframe side walls 17 and 18. The side plates 49 and 50 are secured to the frame sides 51 by welding as indicated at 52. By thus extending e frame sidewalls 17. and 18, as indicated at 51., the weld-V ing of the side plates 49. and 50 thereto is facilitated. The plates 49 and 50 form the sides of a generally rectangular Vlclosure for theV gate 26Y in the open position, the top and bottom of which are formed by a top plate 53 and a bottom plate 54, It will ybe, noted that the top plate 53 is welded at 55 to the upper edge of the side plate 50 and that the bottom plate 5,4 is welded at 56 to the lower edge. The side/'plate 49 is similarly secured to the top and bottom plates 53V and 54.- lAt its forward end the top plate 5.3 is welded to the upper edge of the frame side wall 1,9. It will be observed infFigure 1 that the forward end of the bottom plate 54 extends well past the shaft 3Q and iswelded at 45u toA they underside of the depending discharge chute 22. i

The outer enfds of the top and bottom plates 53 and 54 are anged respectively upwardly and downwardly as indicated at 57 and 58. An outwardly extending flange 59 is provided on the side plate 50 and a similar ange (not shown) extends outwafdly from the side plate 49. A cover plate 60 is Vsecured-by-bolts 61 to the outstanding iianges 57, 58 and 59. A gasket`62 is interposedbetween the cover plates 60 and these flanges to provide a sealed connection therebetween.

It will be observed in Figure 1 that the outer ends of the angles 45 and 46 are supported by a structure which includes an angle 63. The lower end of the angle 63 is secured by rivets 64 to the side plate 50 and the outer end of the corresponding angle 46. The upper end of the angle 63 is secured to the superstructure, shown generally at 65. It will be understood that two angles 63 are employed, one for each of the angles 45 and 46.

Assuming that the hopper is full of lading and the same is to be discharged, the sanitary'closure 23 is removed `and a suitable connection made to the lower end of the ldischarge chute 22. Then the seal which holds the lock 39 in place is removed and the lock 39 is rocked from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3. Then a bar is inserted in the operating head 35 or a wrench is applied tothe square head 36 and the shaft 30 is rotated. This effects Vrotation of the pinions 28 and lateral movement of the gate 26 from the position shown in Figure 1 to a position within the-rectangular housing formed by the plates 49, 50, 53 and 54, where it is supported on the angles 45 and 46, constituting track means. Since the gate 26 in the opened position is completely enclosed, it cannot be contaminated by any extraneous materials and thus it cannot contaminate food stuff, such as flour, sugar and the like, which may be transported in the hopper 10. After the lading has been completely discharged, the gate 26 can be moved back to the closed position in the outlet frame 15. Then the lock 39 is rocked from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 2.

When it is desired to remove the gate 26 completely from the rectangular enclosure, the cover plate 60 can be removed by removing the bolts 61.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be observed that a modified form of lock 66 is there illustrated for mounting between theV support ears 37 on the sleeve 34. The lock 66 has a shoulder 67 which is arranged to extend underneath the apertures 42 in the locking ears 40. This obviates the necessity for providing an aperture, such as the aperture 41, in the lock 66. The scaling band is merely inserted through the aligned apertures 42, and above the shoulder 67 when the lock 66 is in the locking position shown by full lines in Figure 4.

With a view to wedging the lock 66 between the locking ears 40, the former is provided with a beveled surface 68 which is inclined both inwardly and downwardly as shown more clearly in Figure 5. The spacing of the locking ears 40 is such that, when the lock 66 has been swung fr om the unlocking position, shown by broken lines in Flgure 4, to the locking position, shown by full lines, it 1s securely wedged between these ears and is held against movement until it is forced out of locking engagement.

It is desirable to hold the lock 66 in the 'disengaged position, shown by broken lines in Figure 4. For this purpose a cam portion 69 is formed integrally with the lock 66 and it is arranged, when the lock 66 is swung to the unlocked position, to engage the surface70 of the sleeve 34.

By providing the beveled surface 68 and the cam portion 69 on the lock 66, it is possible to hold securely the lock 66 in either the locked or the unlocked position.

Since certain changes can be'made ,in the foregoing construction and diiferent embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, itis intended that all matters shown inthe accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shallI be mterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading comprising, in combination, a frame having side-Walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, runways parallel to and secured to said side walls and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said discharge opening, a gate slidable on the top surfaces of said runways and projecting at one end underneath one of said end walls for closing said discharge opening and having rack means on its underside, a shaft journaled on said frame outside of and parallel to said one end wall underneath said gate and having pinion means thereon engaging said rack means to move said gate along said runways, one end of said shaft extending outwardly of said frame, vertical latching ear means extending laterally from one of said side walls of said frame adjacent said one end of said' shaft, and a latch pivoted on said one end of said shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said shaft and swingable into or out of parallel juxtaposition with said vertical latching ear means to prevent rotation of said shaft and corresponding movement of said gate at least n one direction.

2. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latching ear means comprises a pair of spaced latching ears located above the shaft and the latch is swingable into or out of latching position between said ears.

3. The invention, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a sleeve is secured to the one end of the shaft and has an integral operating head for receiving an operating bar to rotate said shaft and the latch is pivoted on said sleeve.

4. The invention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sleeve is provided with a pair of outwardly extending spaced support ears and the latch is pivoted between said support ears.

5. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading comprising, in combinationa frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, runways parallel to and secured to said side walls and extending toward eachother along opposite sides of said discharge opening, a gate slidable on thetop surfaces of said runways and projecting at one end underneath one of said end walls for closing said discharge opening and having racknieans on its underside, a shaft journaled on said frame outside of and parallel to said one end wall underneath said gate and having pinion means thereon engaging said rack means to move said gate along said runways, one end of said shaft extending outwardly of said frame, vertical latching ear means extending laterally from one vof said side Walls of said frame adjacent said one end of said shaft, a latch pivoted on said one end of said shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said shaft and swingable into or out of parallel juxtaposition with said vertical latching ear means to prevent rotation of said shaft and corresponding movement of said gate at least in one direction, and wedge means interposed between said latching ear `means and said latch and wedgingly holds them in latching engagement.

6. The invention, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the latching ear means comprises a pair of spaced latching ears located above the shaft, the latch is swingable into or out of latching position between said ears, and the wedge means is carried by said latch and has asurface inclinedto a juxtaposed surface of one of said latching ears.

i 7. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming opposite sides of said discharge opening, a gate slidable on the top` surfaces of said runways and projecting at one end underneath one of said end walls for closing said discharge opening and having rack means on its underside, a shaft journaled on said frame outside of and parallel to said one end wall underneath said gate and hawing pinion means thereon engaging said rack means to move said gate along said runways, one end of said shaft extending outwardly of said frame, Vertical iatching ear means extending laterally from one of said side walls of said frame adjacent said one end of said shaft, a latch pivoted on said one end of said shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said shaft and swingable into or out of parallel juxtaposition with said vertical latching ear means to prevent rotation of said shaft and corresponding movement of said gate at least in one direction, and a cam on said latch between the pivot axis of said latch and said shaft when said latch occupies an unlatched position and frictionally engaging said shaft and holding said latch in said unlatched position.

8. The invention, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the latching ear means comprises a pair of spaced iatching ears located above the shaft, the latch is swingable into 6 or out of latching position between said ears, a sleeve is secured to the one end of the shaft and has an integral operating head for receiving an operating bar to rotate said shaft, the latch is piVoted on said sleeve, and the cam engages said sleeve in the unlatched position of said latch.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,344 Gayhart May 14, 1889 466,379 Snow Jan. 5, 1892 782,478 Yeager Peb. 14, 1905 815,202 McClung Mar. 13, 1906 1,016,493 Hackney Feb. 6, 1912 2,181,141 Lovegran Nov. 28, 1939 2,222,280 Batho Nov. 19, 1940 2,738,736 Dorey Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,670 Great Britain Jan. 4, 1912 of 1911 

